Doral: Striking the Urban-Suburban Balance

MIAMI—Doral is emerging as one of the hottest submarkets in Miami. And Doral's urban core is leading the charge.

Doral's city center is striking the balance between big city living and a neighborhood feel, with plenty of housing options rising, office space coming to market and retail spots popping up. The question is how has commercial real estate been impacted by changing preferences in urban versus suburban living?

GlobeSt.com caught up with Ana Codina-Barlick, CEO of Downtown Doral, because she's one of the best people to ask. Downtown Doral bills itself as a true modern metropolis in the spirit of great American towns past, where business and pleasure mix.

"The American dream is changing," Codina-Barlick tells GlobeSt.com. "Instead of white picket fences, people are looking for condominiums in areas that have a city feel while still offering the amenities of suburbia."

As she sees it, commercial real estate developers are tasked with meeting these needs by creating mixed-use communities where residents can “live, work and play.” Downtown Doral is trying to fit that bill.

"Downtown Doral has transplanted the amenities of city life into the suburb," Codina-Barlick says. "The 120-acre, mixed use development appeals to baby boomers and millennials seeking an urban experience with its walkable offices, shops and restaurants, while also satisfying the desire for a residential neighborhood with townhome, apartment and condominium options. Downtown Doral also takes the 'live, work, play' mantra one step further by including a dual language charter elementary school in the master-planned development, making Downtown Doral a 'live, work, play, learn' community."